CLAUDIA LAWRENCE’S heartbroken family are convinced a woman holds the key to solving the mystery of her disappearance.

Her older sister Ali Sims, 43, has told friends she cannot escape the thought that Claudia may be the victim of a woman driven by jealousy or revenge.

Her elderly mother Joan Lawrence, 71, is sure that somewhere a wife or mother is harbouring a dark secret about someone they are close to.

On Wednesday it will be exactly six years since the university chef vanished.

Two weeks ago police carried out further searches around her terraced home in Hemsworth, York, and warned witnesses that they would not get away with “lies”.

Several key witnesses have recently been re-interviewed, including at least one woman.

Claudia is known to have had affairs with several married men and police say she had relationships with 12 men in the five years before she vanished.

Of course it could be a jealous woman who was involved in Claudia vanishing

Close family friend

A family friend said last night: “There’s been so much talk about secret lovers and affairs that of course it could be a jealous woman who was involved in Claudia vanishing.

“It could be that a couple were responsible, possibly a man and a woman working together.

"But somewhere out there is a female who knows more than she has let on to police.

“Joan and Ali just hope that with the latest developments and all the police activity that someone is really starting to feel the pressure.”

Claudia’s father, solicitor Peter Lawrence, 68, has admitted his daughter had “upset” some women in the past. She was a regular at the Nag’s Head pub, four doors from her home, where she is known to have formed relationships with several men.

Last month the man who has taken over the case, Detective Superintendent Dai Malyn, insisted there were people who have had relationships with Claudia and not spoken to police.